Dispatches

The Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail opened Saturday, and will be open weekends through Nov. 30.

Located between Olympia and Shelton, the trail will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends, as well as on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28). It also is open weekdays for school groups.

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The trail has 11 viewing stations with interpretive signs along the 0.5-mile trail, giving visitors a look at some of the 20,000-40,000 chum salmon that spawn in the creek. There also are trained docents along the trail to answer questions and help visitors.

Walking the trail is free, but donations are accepted. A $7 donation, for example, will support two student visits.

The annual Chum, Chowder & Chili fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 15 and 22.

Ken Wylie, a Canadian mountain guide and avalanche survivor, will make an appearance at Orca Books in Olympia on Nov. 13.

Wylie survived a 2003 British Columbia avalanche that left seven others dead. He will be at the bookstore to talk about his his book “Buried.” In it, he tells the story of the avalanche, the events leading up to the incident and following it, and lessons he gained regarding social courage, speaking up and heeding intuition.

Working as an assistant guide in one of two guided backcountry skiing groups in the Selkirk Mountains in January that year, Wylie was one of 13 people buried by the avalanche.

Wylie will be at the store beginning at 7 p.m. The bookstore is at 509 E. Fourth Ave.

Education

Program looks at wolves in the state

Staffers from Wolf Haven International will give a program on Wolves in Washington on Nov. 11 in Olympia.

The educational program will focus on wolf behavior, biology and social structure. Also, as wolves naturally recolonize in Washington, the presentation will look at how humans coexist with wolves.

Wolf Haven is a nonprofit sanctuary for captive-born wolves in Tenino.

The program will include video footage of both wild wolves and wolves at Wolf Haven, as well as hands-on portions with animal skulls, tracks and antlers such as wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, cougar, bobcat, coyote and deer. The program is designed for families that will be hiking, backpacking and camping in wolf country.

The free program will run from 7-8 p.m. at the REI store at 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Suite 410, Olympia. To sign up, go to rei.com/olympia. For more information, call 360-786-1938.